Safety closure

ABSTRACT

A safety closure is disclosed for closing the opening in a container such as a bottle having a threaded neck. The closure includes a pair of inner and outer, cup-shaped caps which are assembled by shifting the inner cap axially into the outer cap. The caps are retained in assembled relation by interlocking shoulders which are respectively carried on the side walls of the caps and which are arranged to interlock after a predetermined amount of telescoping movement of the caps. After assembly, the caps are capable of relative rotational movement except when a key which is formed with and releasably carried by the end wall of the outer cap, is engaged with a recess in the end wall of the inner cap and a complementally-shaped opening in the end wall of the outer cap. Assembly of the caps is facilitated by a taper on the cylindrical side wall of the inner cap, such taper also reducing the area of contact available for the transmission of torque to the inner cap from the outer cap if the outer cap is compressed in an effort to remove the closure. A clearance is provided between the interlocking shoulders so that the caps may be assembled without regard to the orientation of the key and the recess. An abutment portion may be provided on the container adjacent its neck, and the cylindrical side wall of the outer cap may be made sufficiently long to overlap and engage the abutment portion if an attempt is made to remove the closure by compressing the side wall of the outer cap.

United States Patent 191 Elfline 51 Jan. 16,1973

[s4] SAFETY CLOSURE [75] Inventor: Robert J. Elfline, Bloomingdale, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Research and Safety Devices Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: July 28,1971

211 App]. No.: 166,744

Primary ExaminerGeorge T. Hall- Attorney-George N. Hibben et al.

57 ABSTRACT A safety closure is disclosed for closing the opening in a container such as a bottle having a threaded neck. The closure includes a pair of inner and outer, cupshaped caps which are assembled by shifting the inner cap axially into the outer cap. The caps are retained in assembled relation by interlocking shoulders which are respectively carried on the side walls of the caps and which are arranged to interlock after a predetermined amount of telescoping movement of the caps. After assembly, the caps are capable of relative rotational' movement except when a key which is formed with and releasably carried by the end wall of the outer cap, is engaged with a recess in the end wall of the inner cap and a complementally-shaped opening in the end wall of the outer cap. Assembly of the caps is facilitated by a taper on the cylindrical side wall of the inner cap, such taper also reducing the area of contact available for the transmission of torque to the inner cap from the outer cap if the outer cap is compressed in an effort to remove the closure. A clearance is provided between the interlocking shoulders so that the caps may be assembled without regard to the orientation of the key and the recess. An abutment portion may be provided on the container adjacent its neck, and the cylindrical side wall of the outer cap may be made sufficiently long to overlap and engage the abutment portion if an attempt is made to remove the closure by compressing the side wall of the outer cap.

10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 1 III/II PATENTEUJAH 161975 3 710 970 sum 1 [1F 2 SAFETY CLOSURE This invention relates to a safety closure for closing an opening in a container, and more particularly relates to a safety closure for a container which may be rapidly and easily assembled and which is highly resistant to any attempt to effect removal thereof by the application of compressive force to the closure.

Various types of safety closures have been heretofore developed for preventing young children, incompetents and others from gaining access to the contents of a container or bottle containing poisonous or other potentially dangerous material. Examples of some of the safety closures heretofore advanced are disclosed in the Dorsey U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,921,705 and 3,097,756, and in the Velt U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,444. While the safety closures disclosed in these patents have proved generally satisfactory for their intended purpose, they have also suffered from the disadvantages of complexity of construction and operation, high cost of manufacture, and unreliability of operation.

In the pending Edward E. Schaefer application Ser. No. 867,162, filed Oct. 17, 1969 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,387 a safety closure is disclosed and claimed which overcomes many of the disadvantages of the prior art, including the deficiencies of the aforementioned patents. The safety closure of the aforementioned Schaefer application provides a significant advance over the prior art in that a key is utilized to con ple a pair of inner and outer cup-shaped closure members, such key being initially formed with the outer closure member and easily removed therefrom by breaking a weak connection between the key and the outer closure member. The construction of the safety closure of the aforementioned Schaefer patent application also renders it simple to manufacture and reliable in operation.

The safety closure disclosed herein provides some additional advantages over that of the safety closure of the aforementioned copending application, inthat assembly of the parts of the closure is facilitated and the latter also possesses improved resistance to any attempt to effect removal thereof from the container by the application of compressive force to the outer closure member.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to provide a novel and improved safety closure for closing an opening in a container, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, achieves the advantages of the safety closure of the aforementioned copending application and achieves certain other advantages.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved safety closure which may be easily and rapidly assembled without the use of special fixtures, tools or the like.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved safety closure wherein a pair of cup-shaped closure members are utilized and assembled by telescoping one Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and accompanying sheets of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a safety closure embodying the features of the present invention, and showing the closure as it would appear when mounted on an associated container;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side elevational view of the closure of FIG. 1 and showing the relationship of the parts thereof prior to assembly;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the safety closure of FIGS. 1 and 2, and showing the relationship of the parts thereof during assembly;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the closure after the parts thereof have been completely assembled;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view, with a portion thereof broken away to show underlying details, of the assembled safety closure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the parts of the safety closure in different rotated positions;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6, and showing the separable key of the closure in broken lines as it would appear when removed from the closure;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the relationship of key to the relatively rotatable parts of the closure when the key is engaged therewith to couple the parts for unitary movement;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view, with some parts in elevation, of another safety closure embodying the features of the present invention, and showing the latter as it would appear when engaged with the container associated therewith; 4

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but showing one of the parts of the closure in a different operating positron;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of another safety closure embodying the features of the present invention, and showing the latter as it would appear when engaged with a container associated therewith;'and

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11, but showing one of the parts of the closure in a different operating position.

Briefly described, the present invention contemplates a novel safety closure for closing an opening in a container to prevent unauthorized access to the contents thereof. Such closure, to be hereinafter described in detail, includes a first, cup-shaped closure member or inner cap that'is adapted to be threaded onto the neck of an associated container, and a second, cupshaped closure member or outer cap which surrounds I and prevents manipulation of the inner closure member. The respective closure members have end walls and cylindrical side walls disposed in closely adjacent relation when the closure is assembled. Locking means in the form of a key engageable with an opening in the end wall of the outer closure member and a recess in the end wall of the inner closure member is provided for rendering the closure operable either as an ordinary closure or as a safety closure. The key is initially formed with and carried by the end wall of the outer closure member and is releasable therefrom by severing a weakened connection between the key and the end wall. Self-actuating retaining means is provided for retaining the closure members in assembled relation after a predetermined amount of telescoping movement thereof, and means is provided for accommodating said predetermined amount of telescoping movement withoutregard to the rotativ'e position of the closure members or alignment of the key with the recess during assembly.

In each of the embodiments of the invention to be hereinafter described in detail, assembly of the closure members is facilitated by providing a taper on one of the adjacent surfaces of the cylindrical side walls of the closure members, and forming the cylindrical side wall of one of the closure members from resilient material.

In two of the embodiments, improved resistance to unauthorized removal of the closure from an associated container is achieved by providing an abutment portion on the container adjacent to the threaded neck thereof, and extending the cylindrical side wall of the outer closure member so that it overlapsthe abutment portion of the container in closely spaced relation. Thus, compression of the cylindrical side wall of the outer closure member only causes the side wall to engage the abutment portion of the container and not the inner closure member.

In one of the embodiments, an annular axially extending groove is provided in the container adjacent the abutment portion thereof for receiving a portion of the cylindrical side wall of the inner closure member. Such relationship further enhances the safety characteristics of the closure.-

In FIGS. 1-8, inclusive, a safety closure embodying the features of the present invention, is illustrated.

The safety closure 10 is shown mounted on a container such as a bottle 11 having a threaded neck 12 (FIG. 7) and an opening at the outer end of the neck. The illustrated container 11 is merely exemplary of one type of container with which the closure 10 is adapted for use, it being understood that-the closure could be used with a wide variety of containers or bottles of different sizes and shapes.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the closure 10 comprises an inner closure member or cap 16 and an outer closure member or cap 17. The inner closure member 16 is preferably cup-shaped and includesan end wall 18 that is adapted to engage and close the open end of the threaded neck 12 of the container 11, and a cylindrical side wall 22 that is internally threaded as at 23 for engagement with the threads on the neck 12 of the contained 1. r

The outer closure member or cap 17 is likewise preferably cup-shaped and includes an end wall 24 and a cylindrical side wall 26. When the closure 10 is assembled, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the end wall 24 of the outer closure member 17 overlies the end wall 18 of the inner closure member 16 and the cylindrical side wall 26 of the outer closure member 17 surrounds the cylindrical side wall 22 of the inner closure member 16.

In order to retain the closure members 16 and 17 in permanently interconnected, relatively rotatable relationship after the closure 10 has been assembled, selfactuating retaining means is provided. Such retaining means comprises ashoulder 31 provided by an annular radially inturned flange 32 on the inner surface of the lower end of the cylindrical side wall 26, and a shoulder 33 provided by a reduced-diameter portion 34 at the lower or outer end of the cylindrical side wall 22 of the inner closure member 16. The shoulders 31 and 33 radially overlap each other so that an interlock is provided when the closure members 16 and 17 have been telescoped a predetermined amount sufficient to bring the flange 32 into axial alignment with the reduced diameter portion 34. Once assembled, the closure members 16 and 17 cannot be separated without destroying the closure.

In order to facilitate telescoping movement of the closure members 16 and 17 during assembly thereof, the outer surface, indicated at 36, of the cylindrical side wall 22 of the inner closure member 16 is tapered axially inwardly from the shoulder 33 toward the end wall 18. Such taper causes the side wall 26 of the closure member 17 to expand slightly as the closure members 16 and 17 are telescoped. Consequently, the flange 32 can be shifted over the maximum diameter edge, indicated at 37, of the side wall 22 without applying excessive axial forces to the closure members. To this end, the inner closure member 16 is preferably of polystyrene and the outer closure member is preferably of polyethylene.

Thus, in order to assemble the closure members 16 and 17, the closed end 18 of the inner closure member 16 is merely aligned with the open end of the outer closure member 17 and the parts are then pressed together. As the inner closure member 16 telescopes into the outer closure member 17, the flange 32 thereof will engage the tapered outer surface 36 of the side wall 22 and expand the side wall 26 sufficiently to permit the flange 32 to move past the maximum diameter edge 37 and into alignment with the reduced diameter portion 34. When this occurs, the side wall 26 contacts slightly and the closure members 16 and 17 become permanently interconnected. However, sufficient clearances are provided between the closure members after assembly so that they are capable of freerelative rotational movement when the closure is functioning as a safety closure.

As heretofore mentioned, the closure 10 may' be used either as an ordinary closure or as a safety closure. To this end, locking means is provided for selectively rendering the closuremembers 16 and 17 fixed against relative rotation or freely relatively rotatable. Such locking means comprises a key 40 for engaging a recess 42 in the outer surface of the end wall 18 of the inner closure member 16 and extending through an opening 43 in the end wall 24 of the outer cap 17.

The key 40 is noncircular in plan, and is preferably clover-shaped having three circumferentially spaced, radially extending arms 41 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The key 40 is initially formed from the same material as and simultaneously with the outer cap 17 and is interconnected with the material of the end wall 24 of the outer cap 17 by easily broken or frangible portions 44 (FIG. 5) of the material of the end wall 24. Prior to separation or severance from the end wall 24, a lower or inner portion 46 of the key 40 projects below the undersurface of the end wall 24 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7. The portion 46 of the key 40 may either engage a shallow circular depression 47 in the upper surface of the end wall 18, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or extend into the recess 42, as shown in FIG. 7, after the closure 10 has been assembled and before the key 40. has been separated therefrom, depending upon the relative rotative positionsof the closure members during assembly.

As heretofore mentioned, the construction of the safety closure is such as to render it easily assembled and also useable both as an ordinary closure and as a safety closure. To this end, means is provided for accommodating telescoping movement of the inner and outer closure members 16 and 17 into permanently interlocking relation, without regard to the rotative position of the arms 41 of the key 40 with respect to the recess 42 during such assembly. Such accommodating means comprises an axial clearance 52 (FIG. 4) between the shoulders 31 and 33. Thus, if the arms 41 of the key 40 do not happen to be in alignment with their complementally-shaped portions in the recess 42 when the closure members 16 and 17 are telescoped into each other, the flange 32 will still move over the maximum diameter edge 37 of the cylindrical side wall 22 and into alignment with the reduced diameter portion 34 due to the provision of the clearance 52. Thus, after the closure members 16 and 17 are assembled and before the key 40 is separated therefrom, the closure 10 may be used as a conventional closure merely by rotating the outer cap 17 in an appropriate direction to thread the closure 10 onto or off of the neck 12. Such rotation may or may not initially affect rotation of the inner cap 16, but will do so when the key 40 moves into alignment with the recess 42 and the portion 46 thereof drops into the recess, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Because of the clearance 52, it may be necessary to maintain a slight inward axial pressure on the outer cap 17 while the latter is being rotated in order to prevent the portion 46 of the key from moving out of the recess 42.

When it is desired to render the closure 10 operable as a safety closure, a user need only apply a sufficient force to the key 40 to break the connecting portions 44 which connect the key 40 to the outer cap 17. Once the key 40 has been removed from its engaged relation in the recess 42 and opening 43, as shown by the broken line position thereof in FIG. 7 and indicated at 40', the closure member 17 is free to rotate relative to the inner cap 16. Consequently, the closure 10 cannot be threaded off of the container 11. However, when the user wishes to remove the closure from the container 11, the key 40 is merely again engaged with the opening 43 and recess 42. The closure members 16 and 17 thus are again interlocked and the closure is easily threaded onto or off of the neck 12 of the container 11. In the event that the recess 42 is out of alignment with the opening 43 at the time that the key 40is positioned in the opening 43, the user need only apply a slight inward force on the key 40 and continue rotating the closure member 17 until the key 40 drops into the recess 42.

In order to facilitate handling of the key and movement thereof into the opening 43 and recess 42 after the key has been separated from the closure members, the key 40 may be provided with an upstanding rib 57. In addition, an opening 58 may be provided in the rib 57 for receiving the end of a suitable tool for applying leverage to the key to break the connecting portions 44.

After the closure 10 is fully threaded onto the neck 12 of the container 11 and the key 40 is disengaged from the recess 42 and opening 43, any attempt to effect removal of the closure 10 from the container by compressing the'side wall 26 into engagement with the side wall 22 will be unsuccessful. This is due to the fact that compression of the side wall 26 will only result in contact between the edge 37 and side wall 26, the area of contact therebetween being insufficient to transmit the amount of torque required to effect unthreading of the closure member 16 from the neck 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, another safety closure 60 embodying the features of the present invention, is illustrated. Like reference numerals have been used to identify the parts of the closure 60 identical with those of the closure 10. The closure 60 is similar in general construction to the closure 10 in that it includes a first, cup-shaped closure member or inner cap 66 and a second, cup-shaped closure member or outer cap 67 which encloses the inner cap 66, and is secured thereto in relatively rotatable relationship. Self-actuating retaining means in the form of a pair of shoulders 68 and 69 on the cylindrical side walls, indicated at 70 and 71, respectively, of the closure members 66 and 67, is also provided for permanently interconnecting the closure members in relatively rotatable relationship.

The closure 60 is also similar to the closure 10 in that it utilizes a key 40 which is initially formed with the outer closure member 67 and which may be separated v therefrom when it is desired to render the closure 60 operable as a safety closure by severing interconnecting portions 44 of the material of the end wall, indicated at 24, of the outer closure member 67. The closure is further similar to the closure 10 in that it includes means in the form of a clearance space 72 (FIG. 9) between the shoulders 68 and 69, for accommodating telescoping movement of the closure members 66 and 67 into assembled relation without regard to the rotative position of the closure members. 7

The closure 60 differs from the closure 10 in that the former includes additional means for preventing torque from being applied to the inner closure member 66 by squeezing or otherwise compressing the side wall 71 of the outer closure m ember 67 into engagement with the side wall of the inner closure member when the key 40 is separated from its engaged relation with the closure members, as illustrated by the broken line position of the key in FIG. 9 and indicated at 40. Such preventing means comprises an extended portion 74 on the lower end of the cylindrical side wall 71 of the outer closure member 67, and a radially aligned closely spaced abutment or cylindrical portion 76 adjacent the threaded neck, indicated at 82 of a container 83 with which the closure 60 is associated. In order words, the

' side wall 71 is of a length such that the portion 74 thereof overlaps the cylindrical portion 76 when the closure 60 is fully threaded onto the neck 82. The radial dimension of an annular clearance space 84 between the inner surface of the extended portion 74 of the side wall 71 and the cylindrical portion 76 of the container 83 is less than the radial clearance between the maximum diameter portion 37 of the side wall 70 and the inner surface of the cylindrical side wall 71. Consequently, any attempt to couple the inner and outer closure members 66 and 67 by compressing the cylindrical side wall 71 only results 'in engagement of the extended portion 74 with the cylindrical portion 76, as shown in broken lines in FIGS. 9and 10 and indicated at 74. Thus, unauthorized removal of the closure 60 from the container 83 is prevented.

The axial length of the extended portion 74 is such as to overlap the cylindrical portion 76 of the container 83 throughout the full range of relative axial movement between the closure members 66 and 67, as shown in FIG. 10. The construction and operation of the closure 60 is otherwise the same as the construction and operation of the closure 10.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, another safety closure 90 embodying the features of the present invention is illustrated. Like reference numerals have been used to identify the parts of the closure 90 identical with those of the previous embodiments. The closure 90 is similar to the previous embodiments in that it includes a first, cup-shaped closure member or inner cap 96 and a second, cup-shaped closure member or outer cup 97 which surrounds and prevents manipulation of the inner cap 96. The closure 90 also includes self-actuating retaining means in the form of a shoulder 98 provided by an annular, radially inwardly extending flange 99 on the inner surface of the cylindrical side wall, indicated at 102, of the closure member 97, and a shoulder 103 on the tapered outer surface, indicated at 104, of the cylindrical side wall, indicated at 106, of the inner closure member 96. The shoulder 103 is defined by a reduced diameter portion 107 of theside wall 106. The clearance space between the shoulders 98 and 103 is indicated at l in FIG. 11. 1

The closure 90 is also similar to the previous embodiments in that it utilizes a key (not shown), identical to the key 40, for selectively interconnecting or disconnecting the closure members ,96 and 97 in fixed, or relatively rotatable relation. The key is engageable with a recess (not shown) in the end wall (also not shown) of the closure member 96, and with an opening 43 in the end wall, indicated at 24, of the closure member 97.

The safety closure 90 is most similar to the safety closure 60 in that it likewise includes additional means for preventing torque from being applied to the inner closure member 96 by squeezing or otherwise compressing the side wall 102 of the outer closure member 97 into engagement with the side wall 106 of the inner closure member when the key is separated from the closure members. Such preventingmeans comprises an extended portion 108 on the lower end of the cylindrical side wall 102, and a radially aligned, closely spaced abutment or cylindrical portion 112 adjacent the threaded neck, indicated at 114, of a container. 115 with which the closure 90 is associated. Thus, the side wall 102 of the closure member 97 overlaps the cylindrical portion 112 of the'container 115, and the extended portion 108 of the side wall 102 will contact the tures of the previous embodiments so that the lower end of the reduced diameter portion 107 extends into an annular axially extending groove or recess 122 in the container 115 adjacent the threaded neck 114 thereof when the inner closure member 96 is fully threaded onto the neck 114. Such relationship provides an additional safety factor in the use of the closure 90 in that even if a portion of the side wall 102 of the outer closure member 97 were broken away by someone attempting to gain access to the contents of the container, difficulty would be experienced in gaining a purchase on the inner closure member 96 to effect unthreading thereof from the container neck 114 due to the extension of the lower end of the portion 107 into the groove 122.

While only three embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that modifications and variations thereof may be effected without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

cylindrical portion 112 of the container 115 before the sidewall 102 contacts the side wall 106 of the inner closure member 96, in the manner of the'previous embodiment. The deflected position of opposed portions of the side wall 102 of the outer closure member 97 when subjected to compressive force, is shown in broken lines in FIGS. 11 and 12 and indicated at 102. FIG. 12 shows this same relationship when the outer closure member 97 has been shifted axially upwardly to bring the shoulders 98 and 103 into engagement.

The closure90 differs from the previous, embodiments in that the reduced diameter portion 107 of the cylindrical side wall 106 of the inner closure member 96 is of greater length than the corresponding struc- I claim:

1. A safety closure adapted to be mounted on and close the open end of a container, comprising a first closure member having an end wall adapted to close the opening in said container and a cylindrical side wall adapted to be threaded onto or off of said container, a second closure member movable into telescoped relation with said first closure member and having an end wall overlying the end wall of said first closure member and a cylindrical side wall surrounding the cylindrical side wall of said first closure member when said closure members are assembled, self-actuating retaining means carried by said closure members and operable to retain said members in assembled relatively rotatable relation after a predetermined amount of telescoping movement thereof, locking means for selectively preventing or permitting relative rotation between said closure.

members and consequently removal of said closure from or retention thereof on said container, said locking means including a recess on the outer surface of the end wall of said first closure member and a key releasably carried in the end wall of said second closure member and having a portion engageable with said end wall and movable into said recess prior to release of said key from said end wall, and means accommodating telescoping movement of said closure members and actuation of said retaining means regardless of the rotated position of said closure members and the orientation of said recess and said portion of said key prior to release of the latter, whereby said closure members may be rapidly assembled without regard to their relative rotated positions merely by effecting said predetermined amount of telescoping movement.

2. The safety closure of claim 1, further characterized in that said retaining means includes a pair of interlocking members respectively carried by the cylindrical side walls of said first and second closure members, and said accommodating means comprises a clearance space between said interlocking members.

3. The safety closure of claim 2, further characterized in that one of said interlocking members comprises a shoulder provided on a radially extending flange on the cylindrical side wall of one of said closure members and the other of said interlocking members comprises a shoulder provided by a reduced diameter portion of the cylindrical side wall of the other of said closure members, said flange being movable into axial alignment with said reduced diameter portion after said predetermined amount of telescoping movement of said closure members.

4. The safety closure of claim 3, further characterized in that said reduced diameter portion is'provided on the cylindrical side wall of said first closure member and said flange is provided on the cylindrical side wall of said second closure member.

5. The safety closure of claim 2, further characterized in that said cylindrical side walls have opposed surfaces, and one of said opposed surfaces is axially inwardly tapered, said taper facilitating movement of said closure members into telescoped relation and also minimizing the area of contact available for transmitting torque to said first closure member upon the application of compressive force to the side wall of said second closure member.

6. The safety closure of claim 5, further characterized in that said interlocking members are carried substantially at the ends of said cylindrical side walls remote from the end walls thereof, and said taper extends between said end wall and one of said interlocking members.

7. The safety closure of claim 6, further characterized in that said taper is provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical side wall of said first closure member. v

8. In combination with a container having a threaded neck, an abutment portion adjacent to said neck, and an opening in said neck at the outer end thereof, a safety closure for closing the opening in said container,

said closure comprising a first closure member having ah end wall engageable with the outer end of said neck for closing said opening and a cylindrical side wall threadable onto and off of said neck, a second closure member enclosing said first closure member and having an end wall overlying the end wall of said first closure member and a cylindrical side wall surrounding the cylindrical side wall of said first closure member, said cylindrical side wall of said second closure member having a length such that at least a portion thereof overlaps the abutment portion of said container when said closure is fully engaged therewith, and means retaining said closure members in telescoped, relatively rotatable relation, whereby application of a compressive force to the cylindrical side wall of said second closure in an effort to apply torque to said first closure member-and removal of said closure from said container only results in engagement of the overlapping portion of said cylindrical side wall of said second closure member with said abutment portion of said container.

9 The safety container closure of claim 8, further characterized in that said abutment portion of said con tainer is cylindrical and is closely spaced from said cylindrical side wall of said second closure member.

10. The safety container closure of claim 9, further characterized in that said abutment portion is provided with an annular, axially extending groove, and a portion of the cylindrical side wall of said first closure member extends into said groove when said closure is fully threaded onto said neck. 

1. A safety closure adapted to be mounted on and close the open end of a container, comprising a first closure member having an end wall adapted to close the opening in said container and a cylindrical side wall adapted to be threaded onto or off of said container, a second closure member movable into telescoped relation with said first closure member and having an end wall overlying the end wall of said first closure member and a cylindrical side wall surrounding the cylindrical side wall of said first closure member when said closure members are assembled, self-actuating retaining means carried by said closure members and operable to retain said members in assembled relatively rotatable relation after a predetermined amount of telescoping movement thereof, locking means for selectively preventing or permitting relative rotation between said closure members and consequently removal of said closure from or retention thereof on said container, said locking means including a recess on the outer surface of the end wall of said first closure member and a key releasably carried in the end wall of said second closure member and having a portion engageable with said end wall and movable into said recess prior to release of said key from said end wall, and means accommodating telescoping movement of said closure members and actuation of said retaining means regardless of the rotated position of said closure members and the orientatIon of said recess and said portion of said key prior to release of the latter, whereby said closure members may be rapidly assembled without regard to their relative rotated positions merely by effecting said predetermined amount of telescoping movement.
 2. The safety closure of claim 1, further characterized in that said retaining means includes a pair of interlocking members respectively carried by the cylindrical side walls of said first and second closure members, and said accommodating means comprises a clearance space between said interlocking members.
 3. The safety closure of claim 2, further characterized in that one of said interlocking members comprises a shoulder provided on a radially extending flange on the cylindrical side wall of one of said closure members and the other of said interlocking members comprises a shoulder provided by a reduced diameter portion of the cylindrical side wall of the other of said closure members, said flange being movable into axial alignment with said reduced diameter portion after said predetermined amount of telescoping movement of said closure members.
 4. The safety closure of claim 3, further characterized in that said reduced diameter portion is provided on the cylindrical side wall of said first closure member and said flange is provided on the cylindrical side wall of said second closure member.
 5. The safety closure of claim 2, further characterized in that said cylindrical side walls have opposed surfaces, and one of said opposed surfaces is axially inwardly tapered, said taper facilitating movement of said closure members into telescoped relation and also minimizing the area of contact available for transmitting torque to said first closure member upon the application of compressive force to the side wall of said second closure member.
 6. The safety closure of claim 5, further characterized in that said interlocking members are carried substantially at the ends of said cylindrical side walls remote from the end walls thereof, and said taper extends between said end wall and one of said interlocking members.
 7. The safety closure of claim 6, further characterized in that said taper is provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical side wall of said first closure member.
 8. In combination with a container having a threaded neck, an abutment portion adjacent to said neck, and an opening in said neck at the outer end thereof, a safety closure for closing the opening in said container, said closure comprising a first closure member having an end wall engageable with the outer end of said neck for closing said opening and a cylindrical side wall threadable onto and off of said neck, a second closure member enclosing said first closure member and having an end wall overlying the end wall of said first closure member and a cylindrical side wall surrounding the cylindrical side wall of said first closure member, said cylindrical side wall of said second closure member having a length such that at least a portion thereof overlaps the abutment portion of said container when said closure is fully engaged therewith, and means retaining said closure members in telescoped, relatively rotatable relation, whereby application of a compressive force to the cylindrical side wall of said second closure in an effort to apply torque to said first closure member and removal of said closure from said container only results in engagement of the overlapping portion of said cylindrical side wall of said second closure member with said abutment portion of said container.
 9. The safety container closure of claim 8, further characterized in that said abutment portion of said container is cylindrical and is closely spaced from said cylindrical side wall of said second closure member.
 10. The safety container closure of claim 9, further characterized in that said abutment portion is provided with an annular, axially extending groove, and a portion of the cylindrical side wall of said first closure member extends into Said groove when said closure is fully threaded onto said neck. 